Last district game: Midland High 7, San Angelo Central 1; Odessa High 4, Abilene Cooper 2

Notes: Midland High returns to league play, where it is the only team in 2-5A with two district wins. The Bulldogs followed an impressive 7-1 road win against San Angelo Central with a 2-3 showing in the Scotland Yard Classic in Highland Park this past weekend. Bulldog coach Barry Russell said the lessons learned at the Classic -- which began with MHS losing three straight before sweeping Highland Park and Guyer on the final day -- ought to be useful today. Russell pointed to the way his team played against Rowlett, a one-win team heading into the matchup, as an example that it must be ready to play no matter the opponent. "(We) just didn't show up," Russell said of the Rowlett game. "Now, they're a two-win team." Russell said his team was only thrown out three times in one of its losses and said his team must improve its hitting by making the defense work even on outs. "It's not too hard to catch a popup," Russell said. "So, we can't do stuff like that." ... Midland High junior Lance White (1-2) is expected to start against Odessa High, and Russell expects to see Broncho ace John Rodriguez. ... OHS, like Midland High, went 2-3 this past weekend in the Lubbock FirstBank Classic, beginning 0-3 before sweeping a pair of games on the final day. The Bronchos are one of three teams, along with Lee and San Angelo Central, sporting a 1-1 district record. ... This is the first of two straight weeks that Midland High will play three games in a week, but Russell said he feels his team is in good shape with Jimmy Essman (1-0) and Jeremy Hallmark (3-0) stepping up on the mound behind proven starters Jackson Lancaster and Alex Mata.

Notes: Midland High returns to league play, where it is the only team in 2-5A with two district wins. The Bulldogs followed an impressive 7-1 road win against San Angelo Central with a 2-3 showing in the Scotland Yard Classic in Highland Park this past weekend. Bulldog coach Barry Russell said the lessons learned at the Classic -- which began with MHS losing three straight before sweeping Highland Park and Guyer on the final day -- ought to be useful today. Russell pointed to the way his team played against Rowlett, a one-win team heading into the matchup, as an example that it must be ready to play no matter the opponent. "(We) just didn't show up," Russell said of the Rowlett game. "Now, they're a two-win team." Russell said his team was only thrown out three times in one of its losses and said his team must improve its hitting by making the defense work even on outs. "It's not too hard to catch a popup," Russell said. "So, we can't do stuff like that." ... Midland High junior Lance White (1-2) is expected to start against Odessa High, and Russell expects to see Broncho ace John Rodriguez. ... OHS, like Midland High, went 2-3 this past weekend in the Lubbock FirstBank Classic, beginning 0-3 before sweeping a pair of games on the final day. The Bronchos are one of three teams, along with Lee and San Angelo Central, sporting a 1-1 district record. ... This is the first of two straight weeks that Midland High will play three games in a week, but Russell said he feels his team is in good shape with Jimmy Essman (1-0) and Jeremy Hallmark (3-0) stepping up on the mound behind proven starters Jackson Lancaster and Alex Mata.

Notes: Lee returns home for its second straight district game at Ernie Johnson Field after going 1-4 at the Corpus Christi Calallen Tournament this past weekend. Despite losing by 11, 11 and 19 to Calallen, Austin Westlake and Corpus Christi John Paul II, Rebel coach Brian Roper said he felt it was good that the Rebels got to play teams of that caliber and see four left-handed pitchers over the weekend. "I think it was a good thing for our kids to see how Calallen played the game," Roper said. "When you play competition like that you learn." ... Roper was particularly happy with the way his team played against Calallen despite coming up short on the scoreboard. "We played as well as we can play," Roper said. "We just faced a superior team, but I was not disappointed in our approach, how we played." ... Roper said heading into a district clash with Abilene High, that his team needs to focus on itself, particularly at doing the little things needed to win ballgames. Roper was excited, however, for the challenge that lay ahead of Lee. "This is a chance where after a tough weekend like that and we've got three tough games coming up, we've got a chance to show what we're made of," Roper said. ... Lee is expected to hand the ball to freshman right-hander Evan Mata (1-1) against Abilene High. ... The Eagles enter today after going 3-0 in the Abilene ISD Baseball Tournament to move above .500 for the first time this season. Abilene High and crosstown rival Abilene Cooper, however, remain the only teams in 2-5A without a district win. The Eagles are second to last in District 2-5A despite having the second-most overall wins in the district. ... This is the first of three district games this week for Lee, but Roper and his team aren't making excuses despite the busy schedule this past month. "The opponents aren't going to feel sorry for you so there's no point in feeling sorry for yourself," Roper said.